Redirect funds from botched volunteer grant program to student aid, NDP says

NDP MP Charlie Angussaid today the government must redirect the $912 million earmarked for a student volunteer grant program to help cash-strapped students pay for tuition.

During a news conference in Ottawa, Angus said that since the government never spent themoney on the controversial program,the promised funds shouldbe delivered to students strugglingto pay off debt or tuition.

"We have a number of students who are having to consider whether they're going back to school or not," he said.

"And with this crisis,I think the prime minister could send a very clear message and say themoney that was supposed to be in this bizarre volunteer scheme that they came up with, we could use that to deal with student tuition and I think that would take a lot of pressure off students."

Watch: NDP MP Charlie Angus on pandemic aid for students:

Use Canada Student Services Grant to pay down student debt: Angus

4 years ago

Duration 0:31

Ontario NDP MP Charlie Angus calls on the government to use the $900-million to help relieve the burden of debt on Canadian students.

The Canada Student Services Grant,announced by Prime Minister JustinTrudeau on June 25,was supposed to offerstudents the meansto fundtheir post-secondary education by volunteering for charities and non-profit groups fighting the pandemic.

But the government's choiceofWE Charity torun the program immediately crashed intoallegations of a conflict of interest, due to Trudeau's ownties to the charity and those of his then-finance minister, Bill Morneau.

Citing the controversy,WE eventually exited theproject, whichhas since been abandoned by the federal government. The ethics commissioner is now investigating bothTrudeau andMorneau.

Students call for extended emergency benefits

The Canadian Federation of Students is calling for the $912 million to be spent on extending an emergency response benefit for students to December, or on boostingthe number and amount of grants availableto students.

"Most students had their summer job plans affected by the pandemic and the $1,250 a month has not been enoughto make up the shortfalls," said Nicole Brayiannis, the organization's national deputy chairperson.

Payments fromthe program ended onAug. 29.

Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough's office did not answer directlywhen CBC News askedwhether the government is thinking aboutredirecting the $912 million to other student aid. Instead, the minister's officeoutlined various measures taken to date to help youth, students and recent graduates struggling financially due to the pandemic.

Qualtrough's office said the emergency benefit provided more than$2.8 billion in income support to almost 700,000 students over the summer. Temporary changes enhanced theCanada summer jobsprogramand the governmentalso expanded student loan and grant programs, her office said.

"The government remains committed to supporting students and ensuring youth get the experience and skills they need to succeed," says a statement from Qualtrough's office.

Conservative MP Raquel Danchopointed out thatpost-secondary classes start soonand the Liberals don't have an alternative to the volunteer service grant program.

"If the Liberals actually wanted to help students develop critical skills and contribute meaningfully to the pandemic response effort, they would have listened to Conservatives in the spring and invested in the existing Canada Summer Jobs program, which connects students with available jobs in their communities benefits small businesses, non-profit organizations and students saving for post-secondary education costs," she said in a statement to CBC.

"Students have been left behind by the prime minister who is more focused on his scandals than students."

Parliament prorogued, committees suspended

Prime Minister Trudeau sought and obtained prorogation ofParliament until Sept. 23, which had the effect of shutting down the committees that were probing the WE Charity matter. At that time, the government released thousands of heavily redacted documents that included email, notes and memoranda related to the issue.

Angus todaypointed to an exchange at the House of Commons finance committee on July 16, where Conservative MP Michael Barrett asked Youth Minister Bardish Chagger if she had met with WE officials prior to the recommendation to cabinet that the organization be tasked with running the program.

At the time, Chagger said she had not spoken with WE about the student volunteer program. Days later, she said that she had met with WE officials, but the subject of the discussion was another unsolicited social entrepreneurship program for youth not the student volunteer program.

Angus also pointed to an April 22 email from WE Charity co-founder Craig Kielburgerto Chagger expressing appreciationfor her "thoughtful offer to connect us with relevant members" of her ministry.

"Over the weekend, our team has also been hard at work to adapt your suggestions of a second stream focusedon a summer service opportunity," the email reads.

Angus said Chagger should resign because shemisled the committee.